California Labor Federation Becomes Latest Major Organization to Endorse Prop. 8 to Improve Dialysis Patient Care, Reports Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection

SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A statewide initiative on the Nov. 6 ballot that would improve patient care for people with kidney failure received another major boost following the endorsement of the California Labor Federation, an organization of 1,200 unions representing 2.1 million members. 

The endorsement comes on the heals of votes to back the measure by the California Democratic Party and the California Public Employees Retirement System, commonly known as CalPERS. More than 130 other community groups, churches, individual labor unions and political organizations also are supporting Prop. 8, the Fair Pricing for Dialysis Act.

"Many of us know someone who is on dialysis and the struggle they go through just to stay alive," said Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer and Chief Officer of the California Labor Federation. "The dialysis industry has failed in its moral obligation to provide the best, most sanitary treatment for tens of thousands of critically ill patients, and this initiative will give them an incentive to put their huge profits into improving care in the clinics."

Prop. 8 limits dialysis corporations' revenues to 15 percent above the amount they spend on patient care and pushes them to invest more in hiring additional staff, buying new equipment, and improving facilities. According to the U.S. Renal Data System, 66,000 Californians with life-threatening kidney failure get treatment in dialysis clinics.

The two largest companies, DaVita and Fresenius, made a combined $3.9 billion in profits from their U.S. dialysis operations in 2016, and the profit margin of their clinics is nearly five times higher than an average hospital in California.

People with kidney failure often must undergo dialysis treatment three days a week at clinics to remove their blood, clean it, and put it back in their bodies. Each treatment lasts three to four hours.

To learn more about the ballot initiative, visit www.yeson8.com.

Paid for by Yes on 8 - Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection,
Sponsored by Service Employees International Union?United Healthcare Workers West.
Committee major funding from
Service Employees International Union?United Healthcare Workers West.
Funding details at http://www.fppc.ca.gov. 777 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 4050, Los Angeles, CA 90017

SOURCE Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection